Diame has Newcastle exit on his mind

Diame has Newcastle exit on his mind

MO DIAME admits that he might have played his last game as a Newcastle United player at St James’ Park.

The Senegalese midfielder was a 78th minute substitute in last weekend’s 3-1 win over Southampton on Tyneside and is out of contract in the summer.

There has been no progress over talks about a new deal and his situation is likely to remain in limbo while there is uncertainty surrounding Rafa Benitez’s own position on Tyneside.

Newcastle still have three matches remaining in the Premier League this season and Diame will hope to figure against Brighton, Liverpool and Fulham.

But only the test against title hopefuls Liverpool will take place at St James’ so Diame knows it could well be that he has appeared for the last time in a Newcastle shirt in front of the club’s home fans.

“I’m trying to enjoy the games as much as I can, because it could be the last one. I’m just trying to enjoy - that’s it. Then we’ll see what will happen,” said Diame.

“I’ve always said I’m happy here playing for this club and these fans. But this is football, and you have to deal with it. If I stay, I will be happy, and if I don’t stay, I will be happy somewhere else. That’s it.”

With top-flight status secured for a further year, Newcastle should be stepping up work behind-the-scenes to get things in place for the summer so that they are not playing catch up on the transfer front.

Even if Benitez does commit to a new deal then Diame is one of those who could easily be on his way out because of he will turn 32 in June – and that is an age that does not suit the Newcastle hierarchy’s preferred policy.

Regardless of who is in charge over the summer – and the hope from inside the boardroom and among the fans is that it will still be Benitez – then there will be ideas already in mind for who to target to improve the squad.

Newcastle have successfully ensured they will be playing at the top level for a third year in a row, without spending as much as the majority of the division last summer – and it has pleased the squad.

Diame said: "It's very good. We did well (against Southampton). We were a little bit worried at 2-1, but I think we managed the game well. We've been in great form and we're happy."

Ayoze Perez struck all three goals against the Saints and he has suggested the time could be right to move on this summer, even though he is contracted until 2021. There is talk about Spanish clubs being keen to take him back to his native country but Newcastle would be looking for around the £20m mark just to consider selling.

Diame said: "He's doing very well this year. We know that at the beginning of the season he was unhappy with his performances, but I think he's managed to come back into great form. He's scoring a lot of goals for us and helping us to win games and get us to where we are today."

Perez’s improved displays have coincided with the arrival of Miguel Almiron from Atlanta United in January in a record £21m deal. The pair have successfully linked up with Salomon Rondon, who is due to return to West Brom come the end of the campaign.

Diame added: "I think they've got a good connection together. Even in training sessions you can see that they are playing so quick. We're happy with the job they're doing and I hope they will be better and better every game."

Newcastle’s Achraf Lazaar, meanwhile, has revealed he is in talks about turning his loan deal with Sheffield Wednesday into a permanent deal. Lazaar has previously attracted interest from Italy, where has previously played with Palermo. A failure to strike a deal for the £4.5m wide-man, however, led to him being told to train with Newcastle's Under-23s for a time.

He moved to Hillsborough in January and now the 27-year-old has said: “Sheffield Wednesday would like to keep me, we’re talking. I have a two year contract with Newcastle, we’ll see.”

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